logo
Why Donaven McCulley switched from quarterback to Michigan football wide receiver

Why Donaven McCulley switched from quarterback to Michigan football wide receiver

USA Today14-05-2025

Why Donaven McCulley switched from quarterback to Michigan football wide receiver
Michigan football has a new No. 1 receiver, both literally and figuratively. This offseason, the Wolverines brought in former Indiana quarterback and wideout Donaven McCulley, who made the switch to receiver full time two years ago while still in Bloomington. Now that he's in Ann Arbor, the 6-foot-5 pass catcher isn't just expected to be the top target for the maize and blue offense, but he also switched from wearing No. 13 to No. 1 after the spring game.
But usually, players yearn to be the man under center, with the ball in their hands every play. However, for McCulley, it made sense for him to make that switch to receiver in 2023, and he hasn't looked back.
"I grew up playing quarterback, and that was just how I was raised wanting to be the quarterback," McCulley told Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches Podcast. "But as I got older, I started to grow a little more, get taller, and stuff. And I just noticed I had like really good hands and that was just something that I really wanted to do, play receiver."
Though McCulley isn't looking back in terms of wanting to throw darts around The Big House (he already did that as the IU starting QB in 2021), he is grateful that he had the opportunity. Not just because that was part of his childhood dream, but also because it helps him as a receiver.
He explained that knowing what the quarterback wants to do, how he reads the wide receiver routes, ball placement, and more, that it's helped him become better once he made the switch to pass catcher.
"It helped me a lot like with understanding where the quarterback wants me to be," McCulley said. "Coming to college, I feel like I didn't really get to experience that next level of the quarterback position because I switched so early. But just playing it like really my whole life, I just kind of understand like how the quarterback is going to throw this football or where he's going to be looking like when he scrambles out or something like that. And I think that just kind of helps build chemistry."
Fans will get an opportunity to see more of McCulley than they did in the spring game (where he had one catch on one target) come August 30 when the Wolverines host New Mexico for the season opener.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Analyst states MSU has better wide receivers than rival UM; sparks debate, fan reactions
Analyst states MSU has better wide receivers than rival UM; sparks debate, fan reactions

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Analyst states MSU has better wide receivers than rival UM; sparks debate, fan reactions

Does Michigan State have a better wide receivers core than rival Michigan? At least one analyst believes that to be the case. Popular college football analyst and social media personality Rico Rico posted on X that Michigan State has a better wide receivers core than rival Michigan this upcoming season. Rico Rico hinted that "people aren't going to like this" take and that it would generate plenty of buzz -- which is exactly what happened. Here is Rico Rico's original post on this topic: Michigan State brings back one of the top young wide receivers in Nick Marsh to lead the position group this upcoming season. Joining him are a pair of notable transfer additions in Kent State's Chrishon McCray and Middle Tennessee State's Omari Kelly. That trio should be a potent group this upcoming season, and makes me personally agree with Rico Rico about the Spartans having an the edge over Michigan in this area. Check out some of the best replies and social media reactions to this take from Rico Rico below: Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5. This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Analyst takes Spartans over Wolverines when it comes to WRs group

Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit
Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit

Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Four major college football programs are in the hunt for a commitment from the top running back in the 2026 class. Advertisement Five-star running back Savion Hiter named Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee as his top schools in February after a standout season at Louisa County High School in Mineral, Virginia. Playing both tailback and outside linebacker, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound athlete posted 1,698 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground while adding 199 receiving yards. Defensively, Hiter was credited with 56 tackles, seven sacks and an interception. Hiter, who also racked up three touchdowns as a returner in 2024, ranks as the No. 1 running back, the No. 1 player in the state and the No. 11 overall player in his class. Head coach Ryan Day's Buckeyes hosted Hiter on an official visit over the weekend, leading to an update from On3 recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong. Advertisement The report seemingly down played Hiter's trip to Ohio State with Wiltfong tabbing Michigan and Tennessee as Hiter's leaders. Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "Still think it's Michigan and Tennessee when it's all said and done," Wiltfong said on Wednesday. "Those are the programs I'm watching the most right now. I think they are the programs that will take that recruitment up another level from an NIL standpoint, if they have to, to land one of the most coveted players on their board, respectively." Hiter, who visited Tennessee two weeks before making his trip to Ohio State, responded to the report via social media, questioning the validity of the information. Advertisement "Where does this stuff come from when I've done 0 interviews," Hiter wrote on X. Hiter is scheduled to officially visit Georgia this weekend before making an official trip to Michigan (June 13) and Tennessee (June 20). Hiter's talent, combined with a recruiting battle between some of the nation's top programs, makes his recruitment one to watch. The question does remain, though, of who actually leads that race entering the summer. Related: Nation's No. 1 LB Reacts To Clemson Official Visit As Georgia Leads Recruiting Battle Related: Texas A&M Beats Out College Football Playoff Contenders In Major Recruiting Win This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

Nets projected to take Michigan C Danny Wolf No. 27 in 2025 NBA Draft
Nets projected to take Michigan C Danny Wolf No. 27 in 2025 NBA Draft

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Nets projected to take Michigan C Danny Wolf No. 27 in 2025 NBA Draft

The Brooklyn Nets have some important decisions to make ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft that begins on June 25 in which the team will have five picks to use. Brooklyn is focused on more than just the Draft, but when it comes to their future, the Nets will have to do their homework given that the players they take this year could be crucial members of the roster. In his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman projected the Nets to take Michigan center Danny Wolf with the 27th overall pick in the Draft, the last of four first-round picks Brooklyn has at its disposal. Wolf, standing at 6-foot-11 and 252 pounds, is one of the more interesting players in this class given his ability to handle the ball and shoot at his size. Advertisement "Danny Wolf made a strong, final pitch to scouts against Auburn, finishing with 20 points and a number of eye-opening highlights that showcased his creation and shotmaking," Wasserman wrote on Wolf. "Though his three-point numbers might not indicate shooting improvement, he added a pull-up and step-back to his repertoire this year." Wolf, 21, is coming off a junior season with the Wolverines in which he averaged 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 33.6% from three-point land. Wolf put forth his production for a Michigan team that finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 27-10 record, allowing them to make the NCAA Tournament where they made it all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing to the Auburn Tigers. While it will be interesting to see if Wolf last until the 27th overall pick in a class that seems to taper off around the 12th pick or so, his skill set will be interesting for every team that has a first-round pick outside of the Lottery. "A 7-footer who made 21 dribble jumpers, served as Michigan's lead playmaker and still averaged 9.7 boards and 1.4 blocks is bound to entice a number of teams," Wasserman continued. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets projected to take Michigan C Danny Wolf No. 27 in 2025 NBA Draft

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store